Daily Archives:May 8, 2017

Jun

Oh the morning coffee! It sounds so good until… you start feeling uneasy and crash. The Mayo Clinic revealed that consuming even moderate amounts of caffeine can lead to negative side effects. So, if you want to prevent the insomnia, heartburns and mood swings, we recommend you trade morning caffeine for one of these healthier options.

MACA ROOT

Originated in the Peruvian mountains, Maca has become very popular for it’s many nutritional benefits. VegKitchen recommends taking ½ tsp. every other day to decrease fatigue, build up muscle and increase both stamina and endurance. Definitely a healthier and more effective option to give you an energy boost in the morning!

Although it contains some caffeine, experts from Livestrong.com state that consuming yerba mate doesn’t cause the crash. Being a mixture of stems and leaves (also from South America), yerba mate has been used as an energizing drink for generations. True it doesn’t have the best taste but the benefits pay up for it!

Fruits are low in fat, rich in vitamins and have no caffeine, cholesterol or refined sugars. Plus, they have the best taste. If you’re looking to boost your energy levels in the morning try consuming citric blends, add a lot of greens and combine with vegetables and healthy oils. Sure it takes some time to prepare a smoothie, but it can get easier if you have a great recipe in hand.

So, if you must have that caffeine kick, then I recommend you choose matcha green tea over coffee. Why? Well, Epicmatcha.com summarized in two major points. First, matcha contains amino acids that break caffeine more slowly preventing the crash and creating a calming effect instead. And second, matcha provides many more health benefits than coffee. Matcha is one of the best sources of antioxidants out there, it contains many vitamins and it helps with weight loss and anxiety.

This is a no brainer. Clean water is the most natural and accessible source of energy you’ll find. Drinking water in the morning not only hydrates you but also boosts your metabolism and wakes up your brain. And, if you boost it by adding ginger, citric fruits or honey…the energizing effects will be even higher!

Jun

Although I’m no “Feng Shui” expert, I’ve managed to discover it’s great power!

To lead a more positive and successful life experts suggest that you transform your environments into places were you feel safe, happy and at peace. And, since you probably spend most of your day at the office, why not start there?

Here are 5 easy-to-accomplish tasks that will have a great impact and will require little effort!

Keep the air flowing and clean

Feng Shui practitioners insist that the first step into a better environment is a “clear air”. And yes…plants are the best element to accomplish this!

According to Smallbiztrends and Greatist.com, there are many plants that could make your office look great but they recommend these for better results (regarding health benefits, maintenance and air purification): Peace Lily, English Ivy, Aloe, Garden Mum, Spider Plant and Weeping Fig. Small, effective and….cheap!

Experts agree that having optimal lighting is very important for productivity. If you want to improve your results you must improve your “visual performance” and adjusting the color, direction and level of light to your eyes’ needs.

Lighting Deluxe suggests you create a balance between daylight and artificial light and avoid glare or shadiness at all costs. Try not to have light hitting windows or computer screens directly and place all artificial light somewhere it doesn’t hit your eyes directly.

Choose the illumination intensity that makes your eyes feel “at ease”, using light tones that inspire you to stay awake but at peace. And…as an extra tip, try to use energy-saving products to cut costs and reduce carbon footprint.

Putting pictures of your partner and/or family on your desk is a great way to enhance the “good vibes”. It brings positive thoughts and in turn it stimulates you to do better.

To take full advantage of these pictures, “Feng Shuists” recommends putting the picture of a partner on the “right back corner” of the desk and that of family on the left center corner, in front of the computer screen. Also, it is advised to keep at least half of your desk free of things to let the air flow more easily and reduce any chances of stress and overwhelm.

The bottom line here is that color matters….a LOT! When if comes to color experts suggest you never stick only to one, since different colors stimulate different parts of yourself. Experts recommend blue to inspire productivity and loyalty, green to create balance, yellow to spur creativity and orange to create a sense of emotion.

As I mentioned in a previous post, nothing will change if your inner self is not ok. So even if you re-arrange your office space, if you’re not happy with yourself the new look will get old pretty quickly. If you want to learn more techniques to be and stay “mindful” keep reading here.

I hope you enjoyed this short post and that you let us know in the comments!

May

Recently I had to organize a business trip and believe me when I tell you, it is not something you should take lightly. To ensure a smooth trip, I advise you to plan ahead and try to travel as light as possible.

Based on personal experience, I’ve put together a short list of tips to help you on your next trip.

1. Before going anywhere, check if you need a visa!

There’s nothing more frustrating than buying a ticket and then realizing you can’t enter the country. That’s why, before you do anything I advise you to check your destination country’s embassy website and review their entry requirements. Many countries have convenient exceptions but many others don’t and paying for a “rushed visa service” could end up raising your trip costs.

2. Book with a reliable airline

Everyone loves cheap, but cheap can sometimes turn to be more expensive. Booking cheap airlines can result in delayed or cancelled flights, lost luggage or inconvenient malfunctions, which only adds to your stress and puts you in a bad mood.
To prevent any surprises and ensure a pleasant (and on schedule) trip, it’s better to book a reliable airline for a bit more.

3. Pack Light

Increase your peace of mind by avoiding checked luggage. Unless you absolutely need to check liquids or sharp objects, try to fit your clothes in a carry-on you can take with you at all times. Especially if you’re taking trains, subways or any other public form of transport, carrying a small bag will make your life easier.

4. Keep all your information in one place

If you’re visiting more than one country or city during your trip try to keep a binder or folder with all your reservations, flight tickets and important numbers/addresses. Make sure to book your hotels and locate the best mode of transport (if you’re not being picked up) before you go.

5. Keep local currency

From public transportation to hotels and cafés, there are many establishments (especially in small towns) that only accept cash. To ensure you can pay for any emergency it is always advisable to keep a good amount of money in local currency (depending on your lifestyle and needs).

6. Advise your international partners when you arrive and where you’ll stay

Letting your partners know about the technicalities of your trip could play to your advantage. They can offer to pick you up at the airport, advise you on the best hotels and tour you around. Keeping good personal relations with your partners can also increase your chances of closing that deal!

7. If it’s your first time visiting the country: do your research!

To avoid huge culture clash, make sure you look at pictures and maps of the places/areas you’re visiting. Learn some phrases in the foreign language and (if you’re going to Asia or Eastern Europe) you can even study some important symbols. That way you will avoid getting “too lost” or overwhelmed.

8. Take the new culture into account

Knowing how to properly address people of different cultures and bringing business cards in both your and their language shows a great deal of professionalism, commitment and respect. And proves to your partners that you appreciate not only their business but also them as people and as a culture.

9. Make room for sightseeing and fun

Lastly, it is not worth it to travel places if all you’re going to see is a meeting room. If you’re on a “very tight” schedule plan at least to have a meal outside or stroll down the street for a break.

If you have a bit more room for activities, plan to visit at least some of the most famous landmarks of the place!

May

“Giving back” is a wonderful thing. In fact, many studies have proved that people who share are way happier than those who spend on themselves.

The world needs help! But there are so many ways and causes to aid that it can become daunting to choose just one. To assist you in this process, we’ve shortlisted 3 amazing foundations and social enterprises that could put your volunteering hours and donation money to very good use. All of them present in Guatemala!

A member of Junior Achievement Worldwide, Empresarios Juveniles has empowered over 200K young people in Guatemala since 1988.

With more than 27 years of experience, EJ focuses on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and skill development to help the new generations break the cycle of poverty by starting their own businesses or becoming competitive candidates for good paying jobs.

Currently, EJ is present in 17 departments across Guatemala and works with a unique model connecting the business world with the classroom through internationally acclaimed programs taught by professional businessmen and women.

If economic integration is your thing, support this incredible foundation with donations, volunteering hours or by introducing their mission in your company!

Feed The Children’s goal is simple: that no child goes to bed hungry. Feeding more than 263K kids per day, their efforts extend all over the world including Guatemala.

Being poverty the main cause for food insecurity, Feed The Children is conscious that the problem goes beyond food. That’s why they also offer various education programs and long-term solutions regarding clean water and health initiatives.

If food security calls you, you can help this amazing organization through volunteering, donations or by creating your own fundraising campaign. Imagine being the hero who gives a child the opportunity to get nourished! Doesn’t that sound good?

Wakami is a wonderful nonprofit and social enterprise hybrid that seeks to empower at risk communities in Guatemala. Their model encompasses creating small rural community businesses and then commercializing their artisanal products worldwide.

Currently, their inclusive business methodology has empowered 486 Guatemalan producers, 95% of them being women. With almost 20 incubated businesses, the Wakami efforts have solved problems that go beyond poverty. Increased women empowerment, food security, increased school attendance and better education are only some of the great results that this amazing organization has delivered.

If you find women and community empowerment interesting, get involved with Wakami! Here’s a short video from Soy 502

If you found this post useful, please let us know in the comments!

8

May

Recent studies show that multitasking is indeed the worst thing you can do to your brain. Practicing many things at once does not only affect your focus and memory but also your emotional stability and productivity.

When you stop being “present” your mind immediately goes into “auto” mode, blocking your brain’s ability to identify, analyze and rationalize information. And why is this a problem? At work it could lead to mediocre reports, decreased attention to detail and very expensive mistakes. And in life it leads to bad relationship management, exhaustion and low self-esteem.

To avoid getting overwhelmed by thoughts and information, experts developed the “mindful” way of living. Mindfulness encompasses many exercises that help you refocus and live the present, and today we will share some you can practice at work even when it gets super busy!

Mindful Walking

How many times have you forgotten where you parked? Or how you got somewhere? Well, that’s probably because you were thinking about the presentation, the kids and the dinner party while walking.

Mindful walking is about engaging with your actual surroundings and stopping yourself from thinking of what’s not in front of you. You can walk mindfully anywhere, from your desk to the water fountain, or from the parking place to the elevator. The goal is to empower your mind to be present and engage with what is actually happening (the view, the smells, the sounds, etc.) and now with what you can’t control.

Source: Destressmonday.org

2. The “Pause”

This exercise varies from person to person. Each pause is a minute for you. Take time to breathe and examine if all your physical and emotional needs are being met. Are you thirsty or cold? Is there anything bothering you that you need to work out?

If you can deal with it right away, do so. If not, note it and tell yourself you will take care of it as soon as possible. Acknowledging your needs reminds you that YOU matter and refocuses your mind to the present moment.

Source: trudymorgancole.wordpress.com

Hatha Yoga

Take a minute in between meetings to disconnect yourself from the world and stretch. Stretching does not only release tension but also refocuses your mind and lowers stress levels.

Try to complete a short hatha yoga routine holding each pose for 20 seconds. As you do it, choose not to engage with any outside thought that comes into your mind. Focus only on your body and breath. You can play some music if that suits you.

Source: charmedyoga.com

Meditation

This is my personal favorite. When you meditate you let yourself go in a calmed state of acceptance. Take 10 minutes to sit down, keep your back and neck straight, close your eyes and choose to focus only on your breath or what’s around you. Try to engage only with what you have now and keep yourself grounded to the present through your breath.

If you find it hard to focus, you may want to download meditation audios and practice the many options they offer (sounds, breath, body scan, etc.)

Source: businessinsider.com

These are only a few practices to keep you mindful during work. Nonetheless, you don’t have to limit yourself to these. If you’re serious abut improving your everyday wellbeing I highly recommend you research more practices that fit your lifestyle!

If you found this post useful, please let us know in the comments!

1

May

Reading does not only increase your knowledge in a certain topic. If you get into the habit, reading can also stimulate your mind, expand your vocabulary and equip you with skills to write, analyze and strategize at a higher level.

Imagine then if you got into the habit of reading about business? You wouldn’t only learn from the best guys out there but also you will start to develop unique skills to generate better ideas, try and test new strategies, innovate, increase your personal effectiveness and of course stay updated on important issues.

To get you started on this amazing habit, we’ve shortlisted some of the best business books out there! All you got to do now is choose your favorite.

Unshakeable – Tony Robbins (#1 NYT Bestseller)

If you find yourself trapped in your financial situation, then this book is for you. Robbins has effectively created a step-by-step playbook that promises to take you towards financial freedom in no time. Starting by helping you understand your current financial position, Robbins then guides you to become a smarter investor and a wiser administrator by pointing out how to get the best out of today’s financial systems.

From the thousands of interviews Will Farriss has done for his podcast, he created the ultimate “toolbooK” Gathering the most meaningful parts of each interview, Farriss shares with you the “tactics, routines and habits” that business titans (amongst other professionals and icons) followed to be and stay where they are. This amazing book covers topics from AcroYoga to Gut Investing and Hacking, allowing the reader to use it as an encyclopedia of advice given by no other than the very best in each category.

A great read not only for business but also for life. In this incredible book, Sheryl Sandberg along with psychologist Adam Grant analyze the ability of the human spirit to deal with loss, conquer adversity and build resilience. This emotional yet practical guide is a must-read if you want to build stronger and more resilient workplaces that know how to handle adversity, accept change and thrive even when things don’t go as planned.

Written by Menlo Innovations co-founder and CEO Richard Sheridan, Joy, Inc. is an insightful and fun guide to increase employee engagement, ensure a happy and motivated workplace and increase profit all at the same time.

Basing the culture exclusively on the value of “Joy”, Menlo has been able to grow like no other tech business in a short period of time. Sheridan, in turn, attributes all of this to happier employees and in this book he gives you all the tips so you can achieve the same! You can get on Amazon it for only $11.06!

Emotional Agility – Susan David

An incredible research and experience-based piece, Emotional Agility displays a series of steps and exercises to help you identify, manage and get the most out of your emotions. After reading this book you will be able to handle difficult situations (in life and at work), by facing them intelligently with courage and serenity. Also, you will learn valuable skills to lead the behavioral change that will unleash your full personal and professional potential.

Displaying the scientific, artistic and social sides of leadership, The Leadership Challenge holds valuable expert advise to help leaders understand the importance of their role, guide their workforce towards team work, learn the power of motivation and take advantage of today’s electronic environment to do so. This book, without question, is an amazing guide to build the leadership and social skills necessary to boost your organization.

Apr

No matter where you are in your professional life, it is never too late to keep learning.

Every day new trends, tools and methods come out to help businesses and professionals take a step forward, and that includes you! . That’s why we’ve put together a short list of six great online learning platforms for business to help you choose and jump ahead of the curve!

If you’re interested in learning more about marketing, sales and design this is the platform for you. Apart from offering a great variety of free and paid certifications, HubSpot gives participants access to a broad network of collaborators and connects certified individuals with potential employers

edX courses were designed to provide you with the best professional and master level education online. In collaboration with great American and Australian universities, you can complete advanced courses in a few weeks whilst being taught by actual university professors and paying as little as $150 per certificate. EdX courses are internationally recognized by companies and can be used as credit to accelerate your Masters degree!

Bringing knowledge from some of the best universities in the USA, Coursera can train you in anything from data science to game theory and Buddhism. Anything you need to learn to advance your business or career can be found in Coursera, taught by professionals and at reasonable prices. Although these certificates don’t represent credit hours from the participating university, they are great resume boosters and would look amazing in your LinkedIn profile!

As they announce it on their website, Lynda offers more than 5000 courses in business, tech and creative skills taught by industry experts. To start you can either sign up for a free trial or you can go ahead and take the premium option (starting at $29.99) to get instant access to all the knowledge. Also, in partnership with LinkedIn, Lynda offers training programs for companies, ensuring a better learning rate for all your employees!

Ideal for start-ups and small businesses, Google for Entrepreneurs brings together lessons, tools and networks to get your business up and running. With most products being free, this is the place to go to get all the resources you need regarding data analysis, digital marketing, research and communications.

Apr

Guatemala’s Holy Week celebrations are a splendorous display of history, religion and Latin American tradition.

After the Spanish introduced Christianity in Guatemala the 16th century, the indigenous people began to worship Christ the “Guatemalan” way. Mixing colors, music and gatherings this intercultural mix of European religion and indigenous worship methods created a new set of customs that became a cornerstone of the country’s present identity.

Of all the Holy Week traditions, we’ve put together a short list of the most famous ones, hoping you can enjoy some of them this year and get to experience one of the richest cultural experiences in the world.

In many Guatemalan departments like Huehuetenango and Santa Rosa, hundreds of actors come together to reenact the passion of Christ in the streets of their towns, allowing people to live the Stations of the Cross, side-by-side with Jesus.

Sawdust Carpets

This is one of the biggest Holly Week traditions and is lived all around the country. Made of colored sawdust, each carpet either tells a religious story or displays important Christian images, such as rosaries, Hosts and images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. During Holy Week, entire communities and parishes get together in advance to prepare the materials and put the carpets together so that Jesus (in the procession), can walk on them later on!

Source: flickr.com

The Processions

Antigua Guatemala is mostly known for this Holly Week tradition. Processions start out on the first Thursday of Lent and then are carried out every week until Palm Sunday, and then every day until Resurrection Sunday. The processions not only tell beautiful stories but also bring people from all economic and social statuses to work together. Some processions are carried for more than 15 hours and they all include music, prayers and a lot of emotions.

Penitence

Throughout Guatemala, many communities practice interesting activities to pay for their sins. Curious enough, many of these practices date from the time of the colonies and have been passed down generations until this day.

In Quiché, the “gateadores” crawl around the city streets with their faces covered and with thorns on their backs.

In Chichicastenango, people carry a small cross on their shoulders and follow the procession on their knees all the way to the temple.

In Sololá, you have the “Toronjeada” where people fill bags of oranges and hit each other with it. And finally, in Sololá as well, communities are allowed a time to hit each other to settle any dispute and reconcile.

Source: Pinterest.com

Food!

And last but never least, during Holly Week celebrations Guatemalans prepare their souls and also treat their stomachs with a lot of their traditional and delicious food!

Mar

Let’s face it…when it comes to managing our money and creating budgets, things can get a bit overwhelming.

Every time (somehow) we have more and more responsibilities that require a lot of organization. So, to prevent you from going crazy or bankrupt, we’ve put together 5 short tips that will help you keep your finances in check!

Revise Your Budget Constantly

We live in a changing world. And, even if you usually spend a certain amount on something (let’s say gas), anything can happen that can increase or decrease the amount.

That’s ok as long as you update your budget as soon as possible and make the necessary adjustments. This will prevent you from eating up your savings and stressing at the end of the month with extra expenses.

Source: raweva.com

Always Keep Your Bills in Mind

To do this properly, Investopedia advises the following…First, pay your bills as soon as you get them. Second, keep a “bill checklist” to keep track of your payments, and, third, create a folder (in your computer or in print) with monthly sections where you can organize all your bills.

Set the “Bill Money” Aside

As soon as you get you paycheck, transfer the amount you considered for expenses to another account. That way you will avoid spending the “untouchable” money.

Keep Personal and Business Separate

It can get very messy when you mix business and personal money. You may end up spending your savings to save the business or using your investment money to buy you dinner. To avoid this, keep personal and business bills in separate folders, boxes, etc. Run a separate budget & checklist for each area and, above all, have 2 separate accounts!

The ideal would be to have personal, business and savings accounts, interconnected with one another.

Chose Debit over Credit

Having a credit card is great for emergencies or long-term investments. The problem with credit cards, though, is that they can lead you to debt and overspending very easily.

When you use your debit card you are using the money you already have, and even if there’s a chance you run out…at least you didn’t use the bank’s money and accumulated debt WITH interests.

“Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can’t win until you do this.”
― Dave Ramsey

Some Extra Advice

And just as a bonus, if you find making a budget or keeping track of your expenses too daunting…there’s always personal finance software and apps that can do the numerical job for you! All you got to do is keep it fresh and update it constantly.

So here you go, put these six tips in practice and you will see how paying your bills stops being your worst nightmare!

Mar

We live in a world that we often don’t know. However, it is never too late to start exploring or keep on learning.To inspire your curiosity, we’ve put together a list of 25 mind-blowing facts that put the world into perspective and show you a new side of every-day topics.

SCIENCE…did you know that

If you align an average person’s DNA molecules, one after the other, you could go from the Sun to Pluto 17 times (Zmescience.com).

The Amazon Rainforests is responsible for 20% of the Earth’s oxygen. An average person takes in 550 liters of pure oxygen every day. (Howitworksdaily.com – sharecare.com)

If there was a tunnel going from the top of the Earth to the bottom, it would take around 42 minutes to cross it (urbantimes.co)

Venus experiences metallic snow and sulphuric rains. So far two new metals have been discovered: galena & bismuthinite. (Ebaumsworld.com, emgn.com)

The deepest part of the ocean lies at 11,000 meters bellow sea level. The pressure at the deepest point can reach 8tons per square inch, which is equivalent to an average woman carrying 48 airplanes. (Seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov)

POLITICS-PEOPLE…did you know that

The CIA established the “Acoustic Kitty” program in the 1960s to spy on Russia. The program entailed installing microphones and other gadgets inside real cats. (All-that-is-interesting.com)

In 2004 former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev was awarded a Grammy for his voice contribution in the recording of “Peter & The Wolf.” (Grunge.com)